Sponsored by
Tom Richmond: More than ever, the Tories need Ken Clarke
BELIEVE it or not, this has been a good week for George Osborne – despite the Shadow Chancellor being accused of talking down the pound.
He was perfectly within his rights to highlight the reckless nature of the Government's economic crisis management, and I'm no fan
of Osborne.
After all, the value of the pound has already dropped by 30 per cent in recent months.
Yet the reason there has been such a furore is one that goes to the heart of British politics and society, and that is the issue of trust.
If Ken Clarke or Vince Cable had said that the value of sterling might collapse if the Treasury borrows billions to bankroll the tax cuts
to be announced on Monday, there would not have been a huge political storm.
These are respected individuals – Clarke is a former Chancellor who, I am advised, is itching to return to frontline politics, while York-born Cable has been a voice of reason throughout the unfolding crisis.
Contrast this with Osborne who, for all his political acumen, does
not come across as an individual whose judgment can be trusted by the electorate.
The public know this, hence the Conservatives' faltering opinion poll lead. The Government knows this – hence why Gordon Brown and Alistair Darling treat Osborne with increasing contempt. And I suspect David Cameron realises this, though he would never criticise his political soul-mate in public.
Yet, if the Tories are to win the public's trust on the economy, Cameron is going to have to bite the bullet, shift Osborne and appoint a "big beast" in his place.
At present, Osborne is doing three jobs. He is co-ordinating the Conservative's general election strategy. He is in charge of the party's manifesto. And, in his spare time, he's Shadow Chancellor.
It cannot continue like this. The least the Tories can do, at a time of national crisis and ahead of Monday's Pre-Budget Report where the Government's gloating will be at its very worst, is to offer a coherent and credible alternative to Labour's economic mismanagement.
That person is Ken Clarke, a man who, crucially, is trusted by the electorate and whose return to the frontbench would scare the living daylights out of the Government.
The sooner that this change is made, the better – or the Tories will continue to lose the public's trust on the only issue that matters at present; namely the economy.
COMMONS leader Harriet Harman – now known by her critics as "Hapless" – has provided further evidence why politicians can no longer be trusted in what is becoming a weekly occurrence.
Labour's deputy leader is supposed to be presiding over the publication of the allowances and expenses claimed by MPs over the past
five years.
This was supposed to take place by "the autumn". Yet, so far, there's no sign of the data being released to taxpayers for careful scrutiny.
But, as "Hapless" told the Commons, there's a very good explanation for this delay.
"It is a major undertaking, and the authorities are working on it, with additional staff, as fast as they can," she said. "At the same time, they are paying out current expenses, which we do not want to be delayed. That work is very much under way."
In other words, the latest expense claims submitted by MPs are
taking precedence over the wider public interest.
What arrogance.
CONTINUING the theme of "trust", is it any wonder why politicians per se are held in such a low regard when the Government is spending so much money on "spin" and "propaganda"?
When Labour came to power, in 1997, the budget for public relations, advertising and market came to 81m. Now it stands at 265m – an increase of more than 300 per cent in just over a decade.
Cabinet Office Minister Liam Byrne claims that this is money well spent. "This Government are proud of the extra help that they have put in
place for families and businesses," he declares. "Now is not the time to keep it secret – it is the time to tell people about it."
In other words, Labour intend to spend – and also spin – their way out of the recession.
Is it any wonder no-one believes a word uttered by a politician?
CONTRAST the absence of "trust" in politics with Sir Michael Parkinson's careful use of the word when he received an honorary doctorate from the University of Huddersfield on Monday.
The chat-show host was particularly honoured to have been asked to return to his home town of Barnsley, where the university has a campus, to receive a degree alongside the equally famous Dickie Bird.
The pair – friends for at least 60 years – were in sparkling form as they reminisced with students about their respective careers, and how Bird became the world's most famous cricket umpire. Alluding to the absence of respect in sport, and wider society, Parkinson said that his friend's success umpiring Test matches and one-day internationals was remarkably straight-forward.
"It was", he said, "because people trusted Dickie."
Six simple words that the whole country would be advised to consider as they reflect upon this country's problems – whether in politics, finance or on the field of sport.
Email to a friend
Print this page- Leeds lose Ward to Palace: Is there anyone they can afford now?
- Sheffield Wednesday leaving it late to hijack Leeds United over Ward
- As Snodgrass dithers over Leeds, Warnock throws a lifeline
- Ball is in Leeds United’s court over contract - Snodgrass
- Police turning blind eye to Asian voter fraud, says MP
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Yorkshire
Friday 25 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 8 C to 20 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: East
